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‘Shine On You Crazy Diamond’ and 5 Other Tribute Songs

Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter
July 7th, 2019

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Syd Barrett passed away 13 years ago today (July 7), and besides being Pink Floyd’s founding guitarist/frontman, one of his other biggest contributions to the band’s history is serving as the inspiration to “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” an epic and favorite among fans the world over.

Of course, “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” isn’t the only tribute track in rock history. In honor of the anniversary of Barrett’s passing, scroll through the other notable tribute songs below and who they honor.

Pink Floyd – “Shine On You Crazy Diamond”

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The song was split into nine parts that book-ended Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here, with parts one through five acting as side one/track one and parts six through nine as side two/track three. Out of the band for several years due to various mental issues, Barrett coincidentally went to visit his old band while they were recording the album, and the day he arrived in the studio was the day they were laying down the lyric for “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.”

U2 – “Angel of Harlem”

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An original track on U2's 1988 album 'Rattle & Hum,' the soundtrack to the film of the same name, "Angel of Harlem" serves as a tribute to legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday

Neil Young – “The Needle and the Damage Done”

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Featured on 'Harvest,' "The Needle and the Damage Done" is about heroin addiction and its affect on Young's musical community and the drug's hold on Crazy Horse bandmate Danny Whitten in particular. 'Harvest' was released in February 1972, and Whitten would sadly pass away that May.

Alice Cooper – “Desperado”

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Featured on the Alice Cooper band's 1971 album, 'Killer,' "Desperado" is a tribute to Jim Morrison, who was a friend of Cooper's. Morrison had passed away shortly before the recording sessions for 'Killer' began.

AC/DC – “Back In Black”

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A fitting tribute to Bon Scott, the lyrics to "Back in Black" were written by Brian Johnson. Johnson said in an interview with 'Mojo' in 2009 that his then new bandmates asked him to contribute lyrics. "I thought, 'Well no pressure there, then,'" recalled Johnson. "I just wrote what came into my head, which at the time seemed like mumbo, jumbo. 'Nine lives. Cats eyes. Abusing every one of them and running wild.' The boys got it though. They saw Bon's life in that lyric."

George Harrison – “All Those Years Ago”

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Harrison penned "All Those Years Ago" as a tribute to Beatles bandmate John Lennon. The track was feature on his solo album 'Somewhere in England,' which was released about six months after Lennon was tragically killed.